Enhanced magnetoelectric effect in La0.67Sr0.33MnO3/PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 multiferroic nanocomposite films with a SrRuO3 buffer layer

Epitaxial thin films of La0.67Sr0.33MnO3/PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 (LSMO/PZT) were deposited on SrTiO3 substrates with a SrRuO3 buffer layer by employing the pulsed laser deposition method. Its crystal structure, surface morphology, and polarization switching were investigated by using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and piezo-force microscopy measurements, respectively. Ferroelectric behavior along with a remnant polarization (2Pr) of 62 μC/cm2, a saturated magnetization of ∼76 emu/cm3, and a magnetoelectric effect voltage coefficient αME around 202 mV/cm Oe and 300 mV/cm Oe at 1 kHz were obtained successfully for the LSMO/PZT bilayers at room temperature. The result indicated that the coupling effects of electric and magnetic fields exist in the fabricated composite thin films.